Chapter 26: Apartment For Info

But even after providing her with this apartment, Esme still couldn't entirely trust Gabriel. It was hard; why, after everything she has been through, would she trust him? She'd come this far without entrusting someone fully, and she was still alive.

Esme sighed; she knew Gabriel wasn't going to let it slide. "You do not need to worry. No one will be in danger while I am here and when I am gone. They would not dare to cause trouble."

"And they are.." Gabriel peered at her, still unwilling to let her hand go.

Esme growled after repeatedly trying to remove her hand from his. "How about this.. the info you wanted earlier.. I spoke with one of the rogues, she didn't know about a group of rogues outside of Chester, but there is a Hub ten minutes away from the city. It is in neutral territory," She looked at her hand and tried once more to pull her hand free; this time, the vampire let her.

"A Hub, is it only for rogues?" He asked.

"I'm surprised you don't know, considering you're the King and all. This place isn't far from your territory. Do you not know what a Hub is?" Esme tilted her head to the side; she knew Gabriel to be knowledgeable, so it didn't add up that he didn't know about something so basic, and that was saying something considering she had been in hiding most of her life.

"Hmm, I've been absent for ten years…" Gabriel murmured, then looked at her; his eyes seemed to shimmer, "You will NOT repeat anything I tell you about myself to others."

"I will not repeat anything.." Esme murmured almost robotically. Gabriel nodded and looked away, releasing her from his command. "You just used compulsion on me! Isn't that illegal?!"

Gabriel raised his eyebrow and pointed at himself. "King," He smirked.

Esme sighed irritably, it didn't matter to her if he changed his rules as he saw fit, but she didn't like that he used his mind control on her. She hoped it was the last time he used it on her; it wasn't like she would tell anyone anyway. That was quite a secret to know, and she knew if she wanted to keep her life, that was something not to go gossiping about.

But where was Gabriel at that time? Did something happen?

"Why have you been absent for ten years?" She whispered, looking around warily though she knew it was only them in the apartment.

"That is a story for another time, Es. If you tell me about your past, I'll tell you mine; how about that?"

"So, the Hub is a place where rogues go to get information." Esme swiftly changed the subject, "Other creatures can go as long as they don't cause any trouble. Though it would feel uncomfortable for them. 99% of the people going there are rogues, and it can be a bit.." She looked to the side, thinking of the last time she entered a Hub. Within the first three seconds of opening the door, the smell of blood and the sight of a group of rogues brawling for money was before her, and she had shrugged it off. It was a typical quiet night in a Hub. "A little rough.."

Gabriel's brow rose after seeing the images displayed in Esme's mind. It was quite a scene reminding him of just how savage rogues could be. But then he compared them to how the first vampires he created were and the chaos that ensued, then it wasn't that bad.

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Esme's mind snapped back to its usual silence. Gabriel couldn't help but always use his powers on her, it seemed her mind opened up occasionally, and he predicted it depended on the company and her surroundings. Was she relaxed because she felt safe? Technically, Esme was in the safest place in the city; there were guards on the floors below, not that Gabriel needed the security; he found young vampires bothersome trying to take his crown.

"What do you plan to do with this info?" Esme asked, looking up at him again.

"It is useful to know and would make sense as to why there have been rogues passing Chester. They aren't a bother, but the number of rogues has increased, so it is either because of this Hub, and the rogues are seeking somewhere else to live, or it could be something else." He looked at her. "Are you going to investigate the Hub?"

"At some point, I will. If the number of rogues is increasing on the borders, then I will also need to know why," She muttered before turning away. "Thanks for the apartment, if that is all, Gabriel.. I will return to mine now."

"You should stay here for the night until your wound has healed," Gabriel followed behind her to the entrance.

Esme tapped the fob and looked at him as the doors slid open, "My wound already looks like a scar now. Sleeping it off helped heal it quicker, and it will be gone by the end of the night."

Gabriel parted his lips to speak, but he looked over Esme's head and to the vampire pacing in the hallway. Esme turned her head and stepped out of the apartment in curiosity. "Niko?"

Niko paced forwards, his eyes seemed to look Esme over, then stared at her cheek before seeming to relax. "Your Majesty," He bowed his head. "I came to see if.." He glanced at Esme and then to Gabriel. "Quite frankly, I wasn't sure if she was in trouble."

Esme chuckled and showed her keys to the vampire, "If I was in trouble, I doubt Gabriel would have given me keys to this place."

Niko stared at her hand, then back at the King in disbelief. Esme waved her hands in front of her, "Oh, I'm not moving in. Don't worry, I'm not your new neighbour!"

"I would not find an issue with it if you were my neighbour Esme. But.. now that I know you are.. well.. I thought I would update you both about last nights events," Niko grimaced and kept his eyes trained on Esme. "The bodies weren't where you left them. In fact, my men couldn't find any around the surrounding alleys."

"Weren't there.." Esme trailed off with a frown forming on her face.

"You did kill them, right?" Niko asked while looking back at her cheek, already assuming she must have left them still alive.

"If there's one thing I know... It's how to kill."

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